Republicans Join the Battle

After a shaky start, the convention hits its stride.

By
Peggy Noonan

Updated Aug. 31, 2012 7:00 pm ET

Tampa, Fla.

Two days in, I had no faith in this convention. The hurricane tore apart plans and affected everyone's mood. Normal chaos became heightened anxiety. On the floor, the delegate seats had too much space between them, which removed the kind of animal density that speakers in big halls need. The weird, excessive security left the areas around the Forum and the Convention Center almost empty of people and traffic. It looked like the aftermath of a dirty bomb, when everyone had fled. A convention is supposed to be full...